Vikram.A.Sarabhai

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai is considered as the father of the Indian space program. He was born on August 12, 1919 in Ahmedabad. He joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and started his research in cosmic rays under the guidance of Sir C. V. Raman, a Nobel Prize winner. In 1947, he was awarded with a PhD degree for his thesis titled Cosmic Ray investigation in Tropical Latitudes.

After independence, Vikram persuaded charitable trusts controlled by his family and friends to endow a research institution in Ahmedabad. Thus, on November 11, 1947, he founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. He passed away on December 31, 1971.